diff --git a/sktime/transformations/series/_clasp_numba.py b/sktime/transformations/series/_clasp_numba.py
index f99d992b38e..da2d023b351 100644
--- a/sktime/transformations/series/_clasp_numba.py
+++ b/sktime/transformations/series/_clasp_numba.py
@@ -111,10 +111,8 @@ def _compute_distances_iterative(X, m, k):
         )
         dist[trivialMatchRange[0] : trivialMatchRange[1]] = np.inf
 
-        if k >= len(dist):
-            idx = np.argpartition(dist, len(dist) - 1)
-        else:
-            idx = np.argpartition(dist, k)
+        _k = min(k, len(dist) - 1)
+        idx = np.argpartition(dist, _k)
 
         knns[order, :] = idx[:k]
         dot_prev = dot_rolled